Lock for churn covers



T. L. VALERIUS AND 0. LARSEN.

LOCK FOR CHURN COVERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAII. 6. I9'I8.

Patented Sept. 2, 1922.

THEODORE In VALEBIUS AND OLAF LARSEN, OF FORT ATKINSON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS TO THE CREAMERY PACKAGE MFG. COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LOCK FOR CHURN COVERS.

Appoation filed March 6,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, THEoDoRE L. VALE- RrUs and OLAF LAnsnN, residing at Fort Atkinson, in the county of Jefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks for Churn Covers, of which the following is a specification.

Rotary churns are provided with cylindrical bodies formed of wood, the body having an opening in its cylindrical wall through which cream, wash water and salt are placedy in the churn and the butter removed.

rIhe present invention relates to an improved cover for such an opening and to improved means for locking the cover in closed position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a construction embodying the features of our invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken in the plane of dotted line 2-2 of Fig. 1. F ig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a fragmental sectional view on dotted line 2-2 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

In Fig. 2, A denotes a portion of the cy` lindrical wall of a churn. In said wall is formed an opening B. A frame 1 is rigidly secured to the wall A, said frame comprising a flange 2 that overlies the margin of the opening B and is rigidly secured to the wall A in any suitable manner. The inner portion 3 of the frame 1 is depressed, and in said inner portion is formed an oblong opening 4 that afiords access to the interior of the churn.

The cover 5 for closing the opening a is hinged to the frame 1 in a suitable manner. Herein the cover is shown as secured to two hinge members 6 which are pivotally se cured to the frame 1 at 7 the hinges being located at one of the longer sides of the cover. The cover 5 is provided with a marginal packing strip 8 of any suitable material, which, when pressed against the inner portion 3 of the frame 1, forms a tight joint between the cover and the frame.

The means for locking the cover 5 in closed position comprises a plurality of arms pivotally connected to the cover and adapted to be forced beneath lugs on the frame 1. so as to hold the packing 8 tightly against its seat. In the present embodiment of the invention, there are two sets of arms, the

1918. Serial No. 220,734.

arms of each set being rigidly connected together and the two sets beino arranged to be simultaneously moved. *ach set 'consists of three arms 9, 10 and 11, the. arm 9 being arranged to bear against the 'side of the cover `opposite to the hinges, the arm 11 being arrange to bear against the cover adjacent to the hinges, and the arm 10 being arranged to bear against the end of the cover. rIhe arms 9, 10 and 11 are rigidly connected together and are pivotally secured to the cover by means of a screw-stud 12. The end of the arm 9 is beveled and is arranged to be forced beneath a locking lug k13 on the frame 1. The ends of the arms 10 and 11`l are similarly beveled and are arrangedvto engage beneath locking lugs 14 and 15, respectively, on the frame.

Rigid witlieach set of arms 9, 10 and 11 is an arm 1G extending at right angles with the arms 9 and 11, and provided with a segment 17 that meshes at all times with a pinion 18. The pinion 18 is provided with a pivot or journal 19 which is rotatably mounted in a central bearing 20 on the cover 5. The pinion is held against endwise displacement by means of two curved plates 21 secured to the arms 16 and overlying the teeth of the segments 17 and the pinion 18.

Any suitable means may be provided for turning the pinion 18 to swing the two sets of arms 9, 10 and 11. Herein is shown what is, in eilect, a double-handled wrench, the handles being represented at 22 and the `middle portion o the wrench having a serrated opening 23 to fit upon a similarly serrated member or pinion 24 formed integral with the pinion 18. "The member 24 is made inthe form -of a pinion merely for convenience of manufacture. secured to the upper end of the member 24 and overlying the central portion of the wrench to secure the wrench to said member. It will be seen that by rotating the wrench, the two sets of arms' 9, 10 and 11 will be pivotally moved into and out of engagement with the locking lugs 13, 14.1. and 15. When it is desired to gain access to the interior of the churn for any purpose, the wrench is turned in the direction to move the arms 9, 10 and 11 out of engagement with the locking lugs, whereupon the cover may be swung upon its hinges away from the opening et.

25 is a disk s inse W hen said opening is to be closed, the cover 5 is swung into the position shown in the drawings and the Wrench turned to force the sets of arms 9, l0 and ll beneath the locking lugs 13, 14C and l5, thereby forcing the packing 8 tightly against the margin of the opening e.

Each set of arms 9, l0, l1 and 1S constitutes a cruciform lever.

lt will be seen that since the cover is hinged to the churn, ther annoyances incidental a loose or detached cover, are avoided. The locking devices, being permanently secured to the cover, are always at hand@ ready tor operation to lock or unlock the cover. rthe rigid metallic Yframe l provides a rigid and substantial seat for the cover.

W e would have it understood that the foregoing detailed description is not intended to limit our protection, the scope olf the patent being indicated in the appended claims.

We claim our invention:

l. n combination, a churn body, a vframe attached to the body and having` an oblong opening, an oblong cover :for closing` the opening, one of the long sides of the cover being hinged to the frame, tivo crucitorm levers pivotally secured to the cover, each lever comprising three locking arms, lugs on the frame for engagement by said locking arms, each lever further comprising an arm extending toward the corresponding arm of the other lever, a gear ysegment on each oi' the last mentioned arms, a pinion pivotally mounted upon the cover and meshing with both of the said segments, a curved :iange on each segment overlying the teeth of said segment and the pinion to hold the pinion against endvvise displacement, and a wrench fixed to said pinion.

2. ln combination, a churn body, a `trame attached to the body and having an oblongopening, an oblong cover for closing the opening, tivo cruciorm levers pivotally secured to the cover, each lever comprising three locking arms, lugs on the frame for eng; jement by said locking arms, each lever furthercomprising an arm extending` toward the corresponding arm oi' the other lever, a gear segment on each or the last mentioned arms, a pinion pivotally7 mounted upon the cov-er and meshing With both of the said seements, means to hold the pinion against endivise displacement, and a Wrench lined to said pinion.

3. In combination, a churn body, a frame attached to the body and having an ogening, a cover adapted to lie against the outer side of the frame to close the opening, said cover being hinged to the outer side of the frame, a lever pivotally secured to the cover and comprising a plurality of locking arms, lugs on the frame tor engagement by said locking arms, and means connected to the cover and operatively engaging the free end of the operating arms for swinging said arms into and out of engagement with the lugs.

fl. ln combination, a. churn body, a Aigame attached to the body and having an oblong opening, an oblong cover :for closing the opening, tivo levers pivotally secured to the cover, each lever comprising a plurality oit' locking arms, lugs on the frame tor engagement by said locking arms, each lever ifurther comprising an arm extending` toward the corresponding arm ol. the other lever. a gear segment on each ot the last mentioned arms, a pinion pivotally mounted upon. the cover and meshing with both o'r the said segments. and means for turning the pinion.

5. in combination, a churn body vwith an opening in one Wall, a cover tor closing said opening, a member movably positioned on said cover and comprising a plurality ot varms rigid with reference to each other, certain of said arms being adapted to operatively engage with said Wall to secure said ccif'er in closed position, and gear meansk mounted on the cover in operative engage nient with one of said rigid arms whereby said securing arms'may be positively swung into and ont of securing engagement with said Wall.

G. ln combination with a churn having an opening, a iframe secured about said opening, a cover operatively supported upon said iframe and adapted to seal the opening, a pair of locking levers pivoted on said cover and arranged oirierativel'i engage said frame to secure said cover in i l. po sition, gearing supported on said cover and having operative engagement with both olf said levers, and means :lfor actuating the gearing.

ln testimony whereof ive have hereunto set our hands.

THEODOEE L. ALERS. @LAF LARSEN. 

